Exhibitor



Patented Dec. 2v2, 1942 UNITED STATES OFFICE 1.1 Claims.

My invention relates to exhibitors and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of an exhibitor equipped with means whereby a plurality of flexible sheets or leaves may be successively displayed for observation and inspection.

Another object of my invention is to provide an exhibitor of the above described character so constructed and arranged whereby a plurality of sheets may be successively and continuously displayed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the -above described character capable of successively displaying a plurality of sheets or leaves of a permanently bound type as well as those of a loose leaf type.

An important object of myA invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufracture.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a front elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the device with the door removed.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section of the reel.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the tensioning and guiding device.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the reel.

Figure '7 is a detail front elevation of an end portion of one of the leaves.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the feed roller.

In practising my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, I pro-vide a cabinet Iil equipped with side, top, bottom, front and rear walls II, I2, I3, I4 and I5 respectively and with the rear wall hinged to one of the side walls II toY constitute a door whereby access may be had to the interior of the cabinet. While I have illustrated a cabinet of the foregoing construction, it is to be understood that a skeletonized` cabinet or frame may be employed if desired.

The front wall comprises a pair of elongated spaced strips or sections I6 disposed in parallelism and verticality and with the strips secured to the front end faces c-fthe side walls I I by means of thumb screwsv I1. The strips are fashioned with pairs of elongated horizontally transversely disposed slots I8 receiving therethrough the shanks of the thumb screws II to provide for. relative adjustment of the strips I6 whereby the distance between said stripsmay be varied, it being understood that the opposed side faces of the strips i6 define the sides yof a display opening in the front of the cabinet. The top wall I2, postadjacent the front wall I4, is provided with an opening I9 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

Prejacent the rear wall or door I5, the inner faces of the side walls Il have secured to their lower rear corner portions, a bracket Zrprovided with a transversely disposed shelf 2| on which is mounted a motor 22. The shelf 2I has also mounted thereon a pair of spaced bearing stand,- ards 23 having their upper ends provided with bearings in which the ends of a shaft 24 are rotatably journaled. The shaft 24, has fixed thereon, adjacent one ofthe standards 23, a driven pulley 25 connected to a pulley 26 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 22 through the medium of a belt 2l whereby said shaft 24 is rotatably operated. The cuter ends of the shaft 24 have pivotally mounted thereon the lower ends of a pair of upwardly disposed arms 28, the upper ends of said arms having journaled therein trunnions 29 of a feedroller 3 rotatably disposed between the arms 28. The arms 28 are connected together, interjacent their ends, by means of a plate 3lY to which is attached the lower end of a leaf spring 32 forming part of a tensioning` device or adjustable guide hereinafter more fully described.

One of the trunnionsy 29 has fixed thereto a sprocket 33 connected to a similar sprocket 34 xed on the adjacent end of the shaft 24 by means of a sprocket chain 35. Subjacentl theV opening I9,` and between the front wall I4 ,and the roll-er 39, the side walls Ii have secured to their innervfaces a `pair of oppositely disposed bearings 36 and 3l respectively. The bearings 36 and'3l have rotatably mounted therein the ends of a shaft 38 the latter extending longitudinally through a reel 39 illustrated as of hollow construction andfixed to the end. walls of said reel. The reel 39 which for purposes of illusin cross section is provided with a quaternary of angularly related faces 40 each formed with a pair of threaded openings 4| receiving thereinthe threaded shanks of bolts 42.

y Each face 40 of the reel 39 has secured thereto and in appressed relation therewith the upper end of a pack or book 43 provided with sheets or leaves 44 of exible material said sheets or leaves, in the embodiment disclosed in the drawin'gs, being samples of wall paper for display purposes, although it is to be understood that said sheets or leaves 44 may be samples of other articles or merchandise, for instance, rugs, window shades, linoleums and the like. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the sheets may constitute pictures or be provided with advertising matter or the like. The upper end of each pack is formed with spaced openings 45 registering with the openings 4| and receiving therethrough the shanks of the bolts 42 whereby to secure the leaves or sheets xed to the reel and in suspended relation therefrom as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Interposed between the leaves and the heads of the bolts 42 are reinforcing strips 46 to preclude rupture of the leaves about the bolts and to securely bind the leaves to the reel.

The upper portion of the spring 32 is of a bowed or arciform configuration provided with an upper incurvated end 41 disposed superjacent theV roller 36 for successively engaging the leaves as hereinafter set forth. The spring 32, superjacent its jointure with the plate 3|, is provided with a boss 48 through which is threaded the shank of a set screw 49. One end of the shank engages the adjacent face of the plate and coacts therewith, upon rotation of the set screw 49, to effect adjustment of the upper end 41 of the spring 32 in a direction to or from the reel 39 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent. The axis of the shaft 38 is disposed an appreciable distance prejacent the axis of the shaft 24 whereby to dispose the roller 30 into operative engagement with the rear face of the rearmost leaf 50 and thus maintain said roller in engagement with said leaf 50 by gravity. The roller 30 is preferably constructed with at leasta rubber peripheral face whereby to develop cohesive characteristics when subjected to, engagement with the leaf 50 whereby said leaf 50 may be moved upwardly with respect to the adjacent leaves for a purpose hereinafter made apparent. While I have disclosed the outer surface of the roller as being constructed or rubber, it is to be understood that other suitable material may be employed to perform the foregoing described operation.

In operation, the roller 30 is rotated in a clockwise direction, through the medium of the motor 22, and thus moves the rearmost leaf 50 upwardly, the upper end 41 of the spring 32 serving to urge and guide the leaf 5U forwardly through the opening I9 during upward movement. When the leaf 50 is thus moved upwardly, its lower end becomes released from the roller 3U and, due to the interjacent portion of the leaf being dis-i posed over and prejacent the axis of the reel, swings over the reel and is disposed downwardly therefrom and is displayed in confronting relation with the leaves of the forwardly disposed pack whereby said leaf 56 may be conveniently viewed through the display opening of the cabinet. When the leaf 50 is thus released from engagement with the roller 30. the rear face of the postjacent leaf will be engaged by said roller and operated upwardly in the same manner as the leaf 50. As the leaves of one pack are thus successively operated over the reel, the latter will be caused to rotate due to the displacement of the weight of the leaves from one side of the reel to the other yand thus present the leaves of another pack for engagement with the roller. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the leaves of all the packs are successively and continuously displayed for view through the display opening in the cabinet.

In order to permit the reel 39 to be removed from the cabinet for replacing the packs with others, the bearing 31 is fashioned with a vertical slot 5| whereby the adjacent end of the shaft 38 may be raised out of the bearing 31 and the other end of the shaft Withdrawn from the bearing 36. When it is desired to remove the reel, the arms 28 are pivoted towards the door |5 and one of the arms is provided with a pin 52 over which a hook 53 is connected, the latter being carried by the door and thus maintaining the arms and roller 30 spaced a sufficient distance from the bearings 36 and 31 to permit ready removal and replacement of the reel.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described the shaft 24 as being operated by the motor 22, said shaft may be provided with a crank in lieu. of said motor whereby the device may be manually operated. It will be apparent that the spring 32 serves not only as a guiding means for guiding the leaves forwardly through the opening I9 but also as means to counteract the tendency of the leaves to move rearwardly as they are released from the roller 30, especially in those instances where relatively stiff but flexible leaves or sheets are employed.

Also, while I have illustrated and described the tensioning and guiding device as comprising the spring 32 as attached to the plate 3|, it is to be understood that the same may be attached to any desirable part of the device and that the spring may be substituted for any other means capable of functioning in the same manner.

It is well known, that wall paper samples in the form of leaves, have coincident ends formed with openings through which extend fastening elements for detachably securing the leaves to the covers of a loose leaf binder. In assemblies of this character, the leaves are removed from the binder as a unit and secured to my reel 39 by the bolts 42 passing through the openings of the leaves. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my device lends itself to the ready display of wall paper samples contained in loose leaf books or binders, it requiring only a minimum of time to detach the leaves from their respective binders and attach the leaves to my reel.

In some instances, books containing wall paper samples in the form of sheets have coincident edges permanently secured to the front and rear covers of the books at one end thereof and which construction precludes the leaves being readily removed from the covers for attachment to the reel. In order to circumvent this condition and enable leaves of books of this character to be readily displayed by my device, I dispose the front cover of the book in postjacent and angular relation with the rear cover to form a substantially inverted V-shaped easel and with the leaves of the book suspended postjacent the rear of the easel. By removing the reel 39 from the cabinet, the easel may be positioned in front of the bracket 20 and With the roller 30 engaging the rearrnost lea'f. Upon 'rotation of the roller, the leaves are successively disposed over the upper or apex end of the easel and positioned in confronting relation with the front of vthe easel, it being understood that when all the leaves are thus disposed in front of thexeasel they are manually repositioned inthe rear thereof for another operation in theforegoing manner. Instead of utilizing the easel, an upwardly andrearwardly inclined plate may be positioned in the cabinet and with the upper ends of the leaves attached to its upper end for op.- eration by the roller in the samemanner as in the instance of the easel.

While I` have illustrated and described Athe roller 30 as functioning to successively dispose the leaves .about the axis of the reel, it is to be understood that other means may be employed, for instance, a reciprocating arrn provided with a nger or fingers having tips constructed of a material, i. e., rubber or the like for developing cohesive characteristics when engaging the leaves to effect successive separation of the leaves and relative movement therebetween for disposing them about the axis of the reel in the same manner as set forth in connection with the operation of the roller 3D.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readih7 adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not conned to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An exhibitor of the character described, comprising a supporting frame, a power roller pivotally connected to said frame, and a plurality of sheets of flexible material fastened together at one end and suspended from the fastened end adjacent to and in operative engagement with said roller, whereby upon rotation of said roller the sheets are individually and successively reversed.

2. An exhibitor of the character described, comprising a friction roller, a support therefor, a plurality of sheets of flexible material fastened together at one end and suspended from the fastened end, said friction roller being maintained by gravity in operative engagement with said sheets, whereby upon actuation of said roller the sheets are individually and successively reversed.

3. In a flexible sheet exhibitor, a plurality of flexible sheets movably supported Within said exhibitor and connected together at one end about a common axis, a friction roller disposed on one side of said axis and actuated by'gravity into engagement with said sheets for moving the latter individually about the said axis to dispose the sheets successively on the other side of the said axis.

4. In a iiexible sheet exhibitor, a plurality 'of flexible sheets movably supported within said exhibitor and connected together at one end about'a common axis, a friction roller disposed onone side of said axis land actuated'by `gravity into engagement with said sheets for moving vthe latter individually about the said axis to dispose the sheets successively on the other side of the axis, and means connected to said roller for rotating the latter continuously.

5. In a flexible sheet exhibitor, a reel rotatably mounted within said exhibitor, a plurality of flexible sheets having coincident ends connected to said reel for rotation with the latter, a roller pivotally mounted in said exhibitor and disposed in operative engagement with the sheets on .one side of said reel, means connected to said roller for rotating the latter to effect movement of the sheets engaged thereby individually about said reel to disposesaid sheets successively on the other side of said reel and thus rotate said reel.

6. In a flexible sheet exhibitor, a supporting medium having a display opening formed in the front thereof, a reel rotatably and detachably mounted within said medium postjacent said opening, a plurality of flexible sheets having coincident ends detachably connected to said reel for rotation with the latter and with a number of said sheets being suspended from each side of said reel and constituting front and rear sheet groups respectively, said groups coacting to normally counterbalance said reel against rotation when the sheets of one group are of a number substantially the same as the number of sheets of the other group, a frame pivotally mounted in said medium postjacent said sheets, a roller rotatably mounted in said frame postjacent said reel and disposed in operative engagement with said rear sheet group, power means connected to said roller for rotating the latter in a direction to effect successive release of the sheets of said rear sheet group, and means connected to said medium for guiding the sheets thus released over said reel and in confronting relation with the front sheet group for successive display through said opening and for overbalancingly rotating said reel and thus move the front sheet gro-up into position for engagement by said roller whereby allof said sheets are continuously and successively displayed through said opening when the roller is continuously rotated.

7. An exhibitor for successively displaying a plurality of sheets of material, said exhibitor comprising in combination a support from which the sheets to be displayed are suspended, and a driven friction roller adapted to be actuated by gravity into contact with the outermost sheet of the plurality of sheets to move the sheets successively and individually about their point of suspension to exhibited position.

8. An exhibitor for successively displaying a plurality of sheets of material, said exhibitor comprising in combination a support from which the sheets to be displayed are suspended, a roller maintained by gravity in contact with the outermost sheet of the plurality of sheets, and means for rotating said roller, rotation of the roller and the friction between the roller and each sheet moving the sheets vertically above their point of suspension to a point Where the sheets fall by gravity away from the roller individually and successively into exhibited position.

9. An exhibitor for successively displaying a plurality of sheets of material, said exhibitor comprising in combination a rotary support for plurality of sheets of material, said exhibitor l0 comprising in combination a support to which the sheets are attached and from which they are suspended, a friction roller out of vertical alignment with the point of attachment of the sheets to the support, said roller being maintained by 15 gravity in contact with the face of the immediately adjacent sheet to be exhibited, and means for driving said roller whereby the sheets are individually and successively caused to be moved about their point of suspension into exhibited position.

11. An exhibitor for successively displaying a plurality of sheets of material, said exhibitor comprising in combination means for suspending the sheets to be displayed, and sheet actuating means comprising a member maintained by gravity successively in contact with the individual sheets to be exhibited, and actuating means for said member, the friction between the face of said member and each sheet being such that each sheet will be moved individually about its point of suspension suiciently to permit the sheet to fall into exhibited position by gravity.

MORRIS GABIN. 

